Memorial Day, Every Day.

khaddyx08

5-Year Member
Joined
May 15, 2013
Messages
43
Hi y'all, I wanted to post this before the day was over and it looks like I'll get it in time!

I wanted to thank everyone on here, wether you served/are serving or not. For those who served/are serving, thank you for fighting for this country. You are all heroes. Putting your life on the line daily, giving all your time and most importantly doing it for the people of the US, words can't describe how thankful I am. I think I speak for many when I say that.

For those who are haven't served, I still thank you as well for being such supportive friends and family members to those who do. Without you, our soldiers wouldn't have gotten through what they did. You're just as much as heroes as our own soldiers for being there!

I also want to thank y'all for going out of your ways to come onto this forum. I know a lot of us on here could say that you've done a whole lot in answering questions and helping us out.

And most importantly, I want to say that though today is a dedicated National Holiday, Memorial Day will forever be every day in my eyes. Thanks All and God Bless!
 
Memorial Day is to remember the folks who can't respond with "your welcome."

Veterans Day is for everyone else here who is serving or has served.
 
Memorial Day is to remember the folks who can't respond with "your welcome."

Veterans Day is for everyone else here who is serving or has served.




In my town, we celebrate everyone. Veterans Day and Memorial Day are one in the same here. It's kind of become a little hometown thing. Wether you serve and can't say thank you because you're away, wether you have served and already got your "thank you", and if you can't at all. You're all thanked in our eyes, every day. Memorial Day, Veterans Day or any other day.

But since many CAN'T respond with a "you're welcome," I came to those who could take it with them.

Coming from my little hometown in PA, my message still stands. Have a great week y'all.
 
I'm sorry because I wasn't very clear and probably lost something in translation (you'll find I do that often :wink: )

I meant "can't say thank you" because they are dead. Memorial Day is to remember and give thanks for the service members we've lost. I'm sure most, if not all, have at least one person that applies to, either now or past family/friends.

Veterans Day is to thank past and current service members (because current service members are also veterans).

Each year I have an internal battle with this (that sometimes becomes external). Facebook, here, Twitter, the media, all start thanking the military. I'm OK with thanking the military. I do think we lose some of the meaning of the day when we don't focus on the service members who have lost their lives. Memorial Day isn't for me, a veteran. Memorial Day isn't for my buddy Brian, an Army National Guard pilot. It isn't for my brother-in-law, George, an active duty Coast Guardsman. Memorial Day is for guys like Adam Bryant, a 2003 CGA grad who died when his C-130 collided with a Marine Super Cobra while he was on a SAR case (in hindsight, the Navy was supposed to close down the airspace during the SAR case, but didn't, and an number of Marine Corps Cobras were headed out for training... straight through the C-130 SAR case.) I have "my day," which is Veterans Day. Current service members even have two days (and some three)... Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day and I would say, for many, their service's birthday. But Memorial Day... that's the day we think of those who lost their lives, we thank them for their sacrifice, and we pray for the loved ones they left behind.

So I battle with it, do I join in thanking everyone, and if I do, does that water down the true purpose of the federal holiday? I don't have the right answer... but I do have my answer.

Should Memorial Day be everyday? Maybe. It certainly is every day for anyone who has lost a family member, close friend or comrade.
 
LITS,

You're right about the difference between the two days and what each stands for. That said, I have no problem if the "average person" wants to use the day to honor the military. B/c Veteran's Day often falls on a weekday, it doesn't seem to get the same focus that Memorial Day gets as a 3-day WE that marks the beginning of summer. IMO, the military (past and present) doesn't get enough recognitiion. So if folks want to honor living military vets as well as those who've lost their lives on Memorial Day, I'm fine with it.:thumb:
 
I'm sorry because I wasn't very clear and probably lost something in translation (you'll find I do that often :wink: )

I meant "can't say thank you" because they are dead. Memorial Day is to remember and give thanks for the service members we've lost. I'm sure most, if not all, have at least one person that applies to, either now or past family/friends.

Veterans Day is to thank past and current service members (because current service members are also veterans).

Each year I have an internal battle with this (that sometimes becomes external). Facebook, here, Twitter, the media, all start thanking the military. I'm OK with thanking the military. I do think we lose some of the meaning of the day when we don't focus on the service members who have lost their lives. Memorial Day isn't for me, a veteran. Memorial Day isn't for my buddy Brian, an Army National Guard pilot. It isn't for my brother-in-law, George, an active duty Coast Guardsman. Memorial Day is for guys like Adam Bryant, a 2003 CGA grad who died when his C-130 collided with a Marine Super Cobra while he was on a SAR case (in hindsight, the Navy was supposed to close down the airspace during the SAR case, but didn't, and an number of Marine Corps Cobras were headed out for training... straight through the C-130 SAR case.) I have "my day," which is Veterans Day. Current service members even have two days (and some three)... Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day and I would say, for many, their service's birthday. But Memorial Day... that's the day we think of those who lost their lives, we thank them for their sacrifice, and we pray for the loved ones they left behind.

So I battle with it, do I join in thanking everyone, and if I do, does that water down the true purpose of the federal holiday? I don't have the right answer... but I do have my answer.

Should Memorial Day be everyday? Maybe. It certainly is every day for anyone who has lost a family member, close friend or comrade.


I come from a military background, those who have passed and those who are living. That is why I put recognition to both. I understand your reasoning completely and I have nothing but respect for the way you see it. I just like to thank those I can when I can, this is a place I can do that! God Bless you all and those you have lost, they will forever be remembered!
 
LITS,

You're right about the difference between the two days and what each stands for. That said, I have no problem if the "average person" wants to use the day to honor the military. B/c Veteran's Day often falls on a weekday, it doesn't seem to get the same focus that Memorial Day gets as a 3-day WE that marks the beginning of summer. IMO, the military (past and present) doesn't get enough recognitiion. So if folks want to honor living military vets as well as those who've lost their lives on Memorial Day, I'm fine with it.:thumb:

Yeah, that's why I have that internal struggle. I see it through both lenses. For many, there's no focus on the military at all, its the beginning of white shoes and hats, and a time to hit the lake and BBQ.

So I get what you're saying and I agree to some extent.

Veterans Day has become a time I almost try to avoid. Understanding I appreciate the service of my brothers and sisters in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force, Veterans Day is the one day I get to see how forgotten the Coast Guard really is. Whether it's Golden Corral telling a Coastie "Um, Coast Guard isn't the military... no discount" or Disney leaving the Coast Guard off of its Veterans Day pin (but then adding it later and apologizing for the mistake). I end up just getting angry and cursing at the TV screen, WAITING (as I think many Coast Guard vets do) for the Coast Guard to be left off of the "And we'd like to thank members of the ...." And because the Coast Guard is always last, I get to hold my breath on "Navy" to see if that's the end of the thanks or if I have a "and the Coast Guard" to look forward to.

But that's for another day!
 
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I come from a military background, those who have passed and those who are living. That is why I put recognition to both. I understand your reasoning completely and I have nothing but respect for the way you see it. I just like to thank those I can when I can, this is a place I can do that! God Bless you all and those you have lost, they will forever be remembered!

And please understand, I don't have a "problem" with how you see it, and I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of, but every year I have this internal debate, and sometimes it turns into discussions on Facebook statuses with friends.


I see "Thank you all who serve" and I think do I respond with "thank those who have died" or do I appreciate the thankful thoughts?
 
Yeah, that's why I have that internal struggle. I see it through both lenses. For many, there's no focus on the military at all, its the beginning of white shoes and hats, and a time to hit the lake and BBQ.

So I get what you're saying and I agree to some extent.

Veterans Day has become a time I almost try to avoid. Understanding I appreciate the service of my brothers and sisters in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force, Veterans Day is the one day I get to see how forgotten the Coast Guard really is. Whether it's Golden Corral telling a Coastie "Um, Coast Guard isn't the military... no discount" or Disney leaving the Coast Guard off of its Veterans Day pin (but then adding it later and apologizing for the mistake). I end up just getting angry and cursing at the TV screen, WAITING (as I think many Coast Guard vets do) for the Coast Guard to be left off of the "And we'd like to thank members of the ...." And because the Coast Guard is always last, I get to hold my breath on "Navy" to see if that's the end of the thanks or if I have a "and the Coast Guard" to look forward to.

But that's for another day!

Well I can tell you right now that you have my respect x10 for everything you said. They are all our Military, no matter what branch. They may have disagreements on who's better and whatever, but that's what they do. I liked reading all you had to say because you have opened my eyes to your opinion, which I haven't heard from anyone else. I understand the internal dispute, but from my little hometown morals as well as my own living experience (though it may only be 16 years), I want you to know that I thank you too. For all of your hard work and dedication. You all deserve it. Those living and those passed.
 
Well thank you for saying that.


We talk on here alot about how cadets and midshipmen respond to people who thank them for their service. I'm guessing there are very few cadets and midshipmen who feel like they deserve the thanks.

I haven't found it much easier as a veteran. Now, when I think of veterans, I immediately think of WWII vets. I'm sure I've met more Vietnam vets, and probably more vets of recent wars, but for some reason I think of an old man, in a wheel chair, or walking with a cane, with a broken in VFW or American Legion cover. I don't think of anyone like me. I'm 29. I served five years in the U.S. Coast Guard (not including those 4 years at "The Factory"). For two of those years I was on a 210' cutter, in the north Atlantic on fisheries boardings on in the Florida Straits or Windward Pass picking up Cubans and Haitians (many, many Cubans). Those experiences have lead to some interesting sea stories (although you don't know they're interesting when you're in the middle of it). After two years of that I worked at Coast Guard Headquarters.

Technically I've a veteran. I don't walk with a cane and, despite by lower back pain (compliments of a nasty hit from behind into the boards one morning playing hockey at CGA), I don't use a wheel chair. I worked on a ship and I sat behind a desk. I did something I hoped made the world, in some small way, a better place. I can think of 1,000 people by name, and 1,000,000 people by association who have done more and seen more and contributed more than me. In fact, we have many people here, both veterans and still serving who have given more. Some have even given their sons or daughters, which I would guess often is a heavier burden and a greater sacrifice than giving your own life.

I'm not sure if other people here have the same hesitation to feel like they have earned the right to say "your welcome" (they have), but I'm not sure I'll ever feel like I did enough or gave enough to warrant a "thank you." If anything, I feel like I need to respond on behalf of my old fellow Coasties out there that have earned it.

So on behalf of those Coasties.... you're welcome.
 
Well, on behalf of you and the others, I personally thank y'all. Though in your own interest you feel like you haven't done enough or that you should have done more, I believe that giving any day or your time fighting for this country, you deserve a "Thank You."

Like I said in a previous thread, I come from a family of eleven children. Father and Uncles in the Navy, Brothers in the Marines, Grandfathers in the Army. My siblings and I, as well as close friends have gone that step to thank all veterans/soldiers/troops/family members/ friends and so forth for being a part of a huge family that they know and love. This is so easy for us because we ourselves come from a large family in which we know the sacrifice that others do not. I know this is a quality that is found in the forces. Though ours isn't even as close to as large, we still understand.

So you earn more than my respect, you earn much more than that. You are truly a hero for what you've done. Whoever reads this, I hope that if they feel the same way you do that they take these words to heart. Thank you for your service and I hope one day you can understand why this was written for you too.
 
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